Hunter Steward, the newest member of the BC Lions, played exclusively at tackle during his short college career. He could stay there if the club could ever convince Danny Watkins to play guard (Jenelle Schnieder/PNG)

Danny Watkins has been on the biggest stage in the NFL in every literal sense, when he was hugged by Roger Goddell as a first-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. Surely what’s there not to like about the B.C. Lions and their slightly smaller stage not known as anything other than their Surrey practice facility?

Wally Buono would like to show the free agent offensive lineman what the CFL team is all about, perhaps ultimately convincing their 2010 top Canadian college draft pick there’s a career for him here yet. So far though, it hasn’t gone well. Buono and Watkins haven’t even spoken.

“We’ve talked to his agent. He said at this point he’s not even thinking about playing football,” Buono said of Watkins, who couldn’t get on the field with the Miami Dolphins last year even when they lost three starters amid the mayhem which existed around that NFL team last year.

“Now, does that mean he’s not thinking about playing in the NFL? It’s been a rough two years for him. If we can talk to him, host him, see the facility, maybe we can excite him a little bit, maybe we can’t.”

Talk about Watkins was under discussion because the Lions had announced the signing of 2013 top pick Hunter Steward, and as the news was at least five hours old it was incumbent to find a better angle.

For starters though, the Lions will try to make a comfortable home for Steward, which could be a debate but probably won’t at least until next season. Having only played exactly 22 games at left tackle at college, Steward isn’t exactly going to be a natural at guard. And as Buono noted, Kirby Fabien was an CIS all-star at tackle at the University of Calgary.

It’s possible therefore ro contemplate Steward and Fabien at the position, leaving Patrick Kabongo and Dean Valli at guard. Possible, but not likely. Yet the Lions still say finding a long-term non-import tackle is still a worthy consideration.

“If we wanted to change the ratio we have two guys who are both big linemen. I don’t think we’ve been in this position for years. You’ve got to play your non-imports because athletically it’s the first thing you look at,” Buono said. “Right now though, I wouldn’t say that’s something we’d look at for 2014.”

There you go: Chad Johnson has a better chance to play for the Lions. But if they got a good West Kelowna guy like Watkins to fall in love with the true treasures of Surrey, who knows? More in the paper tomorrow.

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